If you suffer from fibromyalgia, being active and socially engaged was tough enough before the COVID-19 crisis. Now it feels all but impossible.

In March, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a statewide Stay at Home order, meaning people could only leave their homes for essential services like groceries, doctors appointments, or work deemed essential to a functioning society.

While staying at home is crucial in preventing the spread of the virus, doctors still recommend activity and social engagement for people who suffer from fibromyalgia — but at a distance.

Here are 5 ways you can boost your activity, stay connected to friends and family, and instill happiness — while maintaining healthy social distancing.

Practice Light Yoga at Home

At our health and wellness center, we encourage our fibromyalgia patients to engage in light yoga. And even during the COVID-19 crisis you still can — only in your living room instead of a yoga studio.

The Internet can be a powerful tool during this time. Stream yoga classes into your living room via your computer, Roku, or Internet connected TV.

Available on Amazon Prime, Yoga for the Inflexible is a nice place to begin. It uses lighter poses to let your body ease into yoga. Also available on Amazon Prime, 30 Days of Yoga for a New You provides a month long regimen, but go easy. Only do stretches that feel within your limits.

Take Walks

Ohio’s Stay at Home Order not only allows people to get outside for walking, jogging and other forms of exercise — it encourages it. Being stuck at home is no fun. We tend to get cabin fever — especially those with fibromyalgia. As your doctor, I encourage you to get outside and stretch your legs. Take a walk, go for a light jog, enjoy a little sun.

Just be careful to maintain at least 6 feet distance from those not in your immediate household. Avoid touching commonly touched surfaces. Wash your hands afterward.

Enjoy Virtual Social Get Togethers

Just because you’re sheltering at home doesn’t mean you have to be a hermit. Plan virtual get-togethers with friends. You can Skype, use video chat via Facebook Messenger, or FaceTime. Zoom is also an excellent free option that’s great for group chats.

By using a video networking service, you can see friends and family face-to-face — while still maintaining healthy social distancing. It can be awkward at first, but you’ll soon get used to it, as if you are hanging out together in a coffee shop or restaurant, all from the comforts of your own couch.

Teleconference with Your Doctor

For those who live with fibromyalgia, staying in touch with your doctor is essential. And while doctors and medical appointments are literally considered essential under Ohio’s Stay at Home order, many visits can be done virtually. Since tele-appointments limit exposure, they protect you, as well as your doctor.

Be Easy On Yourself

Every day, we advise our fibromyalgia patients to not be too hard on themselves. This is a difficult crisis. It’s going to take time, and it’s going to be hard. You’ll have your good moments, but you’ll also struggle at times. And that’s okay. We all have to be patient with one another. This too will eventually pass. Life will return to normal eventually. Until then, stay strong! Take it one day at a time — that’s the best advice we can give to those who live with fibromyalgia.

Patient Testimonials

I really hope this helps change and save someones life. I was extremely MISERABLE for over 5 years before finding and being treated by Dr. Blatman. I tried 3-Chiropractors, 3- Physical Therapists, and 4- Neurosurgeons. Eventually I was physically unable to do anything and spent numerous hours laying down. FYI, I’m in my 40’s so I refused a handicap parking pass and heavy addictive pain pills. Those were the options consistently pushed upon me by the above experts. A customer saw my struggles and referred me to Dr. Blatman. It sounded too simple to be true. However, he SAVED my life with minimum visits and costs. I now vacation, play tennis, racquetball, and ride ATVs. Truly AMAZING!!

George Triantafilou

I visited Dr. Blatman to receive relief from a strained groin, and recurrent calf pain due to an injury a year ago. After two visits where Dr. Blatman performed the trigger point injection technique, both problems have been resolved and I have been able to resume all activities including playing tennis 3 times a week. I would highly recommend Dr. Blatman and his associates.

Chris Uhlhorn

As an author of one of the early texts on Evidence-Based Medicine I know the power and peril of anecdote. That said I arrived to present at a conference with a painfully familiar recurrence lower back pain, bracing myself for days if not weeks of symptoms to come. Hal kindly offered to diagnose and provide some hands on treatment. Within 10 minutes I felt 50% better and by morning I was 80% better and could put my socks on again. Within a week I was completely pain free. While this is by no means scientific evidence I could not help but feel awe inspired by Hal and his care.

Daniel Friedman, MD

Chronic Fatigue was my diagnosis in 2005. How do you treat Chronic Fatigue? Well, there is no magic pill or cure. So I suffered for almost 2 years. I did not find a magic pill but I did find Blatman Pain Clinic. I was cautious about many of his recommendations but I have found out the hard way to follow his advise. My energy level is back to normal. I can keep up with my hectic job and 2 teenage children. I am a single parent and they count on me! Thank You Dr. Blatman!

KG

The key to relieving chronic pain, especially fibromyalgia and myofascial pain, requires identification and treatment of perpetuating factors. This must be done on a patient-by-patient basis, due to the variables these conditions present. Dr. Blatman provides this total patient care.

Devin Starlanyl

When I first went to Dr. Blatman two years ago, I was spending 1-3 days a week in bed with severe neck pain, headaches and nausea. I had had migraines for 40 years and been to countless doctors, but did not receive any help. I had also developed chronic myofascial pain in my neck. Now, two years later, I have not been bed ridden with a sick pain event in my neck or head once, and I have a life again, thanks to Dr. Blatman's expert knowledge, thoughtful help and perseverance.

Wendy Andrews

After suffering with widespread pain for two years, I was told it was all in my head and that nothing could be done for my condition as nothing appeared on an x-ray or MRI. After joining a fibromyalgia support group, I was referred to Dr. Blatman. I found [it] to be very calm[ing] and reassuring that my pain was real. We discussed medication, therapies exercise and diet changes and Dr. Blatman literally walked with me in reclaiming my life.

Sylvia Link

I was in pain daily and forced to limit my exercise. This was a real blow to me because exercise had always been a part of my life. I tried anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy, but nothing worked. I was afraid I was going to have to live the rest of my life like this. That’s when I was introduced to Dr. Blatman’s philosophies. By implementing his ideas of wellness into my life and selective trigger point injections, I’m happy to say that I am now happy, healthy and pain free.

Teri Boynton

Like so many people who suffer with chronic headaches, I had gotten only partial relief from traditional medicine. Dr. Blatman understands the impact of headache pain. His emphasis on multiple techniques made a big difference for me.

Chris Modrall

Within ten days, my groin muscle pain was gone and the elbow tendonitis pain resolved in a slightly longer time. Both problems have gone away with no recurrence.

Alan Rosenberg

I don’t have a lot of time to get better when my back hurts. Bad backs are an occupational hazard in dentistry. Treatment with Dr. Blatman gets me out of pain, back to work and back on the golf course with a minimal amount of down time. Having this treatment available has been an indispensable part of my life in terms of doing the things I need and love to do.

Dr. Richard Wolterman

Since beginning treatment with Dr. Blatman, I have lost lost 30 pounds and gone from being unable to walk without help, to a career singing and dancing at retirement communities, sometimes up to four hours a day.

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